Need Tankmate Suggestions For Blue Acara

[Faythee]

I have a standard 55 gallon with 3 Rainbow dithers, and today I picked up a nice Blue Acara, approx. 4". Anybody have suggestions what stocking would work well ?

I was looking at the following while there:
-Jack Dempsey ( does it get too big or too mean for this size tank ?)
-Festivum (they have 2 that are pretty much full size, not too impressed but believe they are lesser in aggressiveness?)
-Red Jewel (pretty! can this work ?)
-Firemouth (kinda skittish as I had a super mean one once before)
-Syndotis Catfish

Open for any ideas. I can move the Rainbows if needed. I'm thinking a catfish and/or loach, a school of somthing, a pleco, and one more largish fish.

 

[Wills]

I would up the school of rainbows to 6 which ones are they? On the list I would go for the Festivum or the Firemouth, have you considered the Ellioti? Its a bit like a FM but more colourful and a bit more peaceful the syno could work pretty nice as well Quite a lot of pleco options did you have anything special in mind? Or are you going the BN route?

 

[Faythee]

They had one lonely Bosemani, so I got that one and 2 other kind, "somthing" River ones, can't remember the name. I didn't want the Bosemani to be lonely. Can't say I like them much. He said he would be getting more of the Bosemani's in.

I will look up the Ellioti, thank you !

Around here.....all I find is regular Plecos. I would like somthing nicer that doesn't get too big, other than the BN. Need to do some research on that one, and can order it.

 

[GShorty1981]

I wouldnt go with the Dempsey...to big and could kill the Acara if it felt the need, Firemouths are hit and miss, Jewels are plain evil.

Festivums could work, i always found them intolerant of eachother tho.

There are many more options tho, Angels, Female Convicts, Earth Eaters (except the bigger types) anything that is around 6" and non-aggressive would work.

I always keep them with Sevs and Oscars etc.

Green Terror would work also if it was a bigger tank.

 

[snowflake311]

I agree with Wills Festivum would be good a firemouth would work. A large keyhole cichlid even rams but some blue acaras can be too aggressive for rams and keyholes it depends. I have had a mean BA and now I have a nice one with a keyhole and bolviana ram.

I have an EB Jack with a male BA they get along well. That also depends on the fish some JD are mean other are shy. Yeah your tank might be too small for a JD long term they can get to be 10" but most are 8". If you have too good temper JD and BA you could make it work. With enough hide outs.

If you were to get a larger tank a severum would be good.

The blue acara is a good well rounded fish and does well with many kinds of fish.

 

[bricko]

What about a Nicaraguan?

Had a female one not so long back and she was relatively comfortable with a green severum and 2 wild acaras in a 190l Corner tank.

Shut the tank down now and really miss them fish

 

[Faythee]

I have 4 large tanks, 2 of which are Severums so I do have the option to move fish around if need be. Then again my Green Sev is quite mean, while my Rotkeil is pretty docile.

High ph, so I don't think I can go with Rams or Angels.

I have a Frontosa about the same size as the Acara.....I wonder if they would work together ?

I went to Aquabid last night and found a nice Sunshine Pleco that I might get. The same seller has Pearl Cichlids. Anyone familiar with them ?

I like the idea of a smaller Geophogus too.

 

[Faythee]

okay....Pearls get too big.

I can't find Ellioti or Nicaraguans for sale. Do they go by any other names ?

Which Geos stay small ?

 

[SDWalters]

I have a 120gal and have mine in with 2 Firemouths, a Convict (female i think) a Chocolate cichlid and a parrot fish (the infamous man made type not the real parrot) and they all get on fine.... The Blue Acara actually rules the tank but nothing overly aggressive, so take from that what you will......

Oh i also have a freshwater (columbian i think)puffer who gets on fine with everythign in the tank and is a very fun and interesting fish to watch, only think is they do need the odd bit of dentistry to keep them healthy( Plenty of articles online for help with that though).

 

[bricko]

okay....Pearls get too big.

I can't find Ellioti or Nicaraguans for sale. Do they go by any other names ?

Which Geos stay small ?

Common name - Nicaragua Cichlid or Spilotum

Scientific name - Hypsophrys nicaraguensis

HTH

Mark

 

[snowflake311]

Bolviana rams are geos and the smallest kind. The real name is Mikrogeophagus altispinosus. They can live in a wider rang of ph then the blue rams. I think an angle would be fine too. Is your ph 8. If your other American cichlids are fine I don't see why the angle and bolviana ram would not be they are both hardy tank raised fish.